Bav34
...
Just sailed up through Portsmouth Harbour and every ships flag is at half-mast.
Can't see anything on the interweb.
Any ideas?
Can't see anything on the interweb.
Any ideas?
Naval Flags at half-mast today. Why?
- Thread starter Bav34
- Start date
colingr
Well-Known Member
100th day of the tory/lib alliance and they're mourning the cuts in defence spending?
Mourning the performance of the England cricketers?
Mourning the performance of the England cricketers?
dombuckley
Well-Known Member
Believe it was for the funeral of a Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan.
Bav34
...
Thanks Dom. It was quite sobering. We first noted Ark Royal then a Destroyer, then 3 Frigates ... a moving sign of respect for such a loss.
trapezeartist
Well-Known Member
It all gets a bit overdone though, doesn't it? You would think the squaddies didn't realise that getting shot was a risk of the job.
What next? Hospitals fly a flag at half-mast every time a patient dies? DVLA flies a flag at half-mast every time a motorist gets killed? Treasury flies a flag at half-mast every time a taxpayer dies (unless they fall within the scope of IHT)?
What next? Hospitals fly a flag at half-mast every time a patient dies? DVLA flies a flag at half-mast every time a motorist gets killed? Treasury flies a flag at half-mast every time a taxpayer dies (unless they fall within the scope of IHT)?
millbeach
Well-Known Member
Bit harsh.
A man lost his life serving his country.
A man lost his life serving his country.
grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
What an absolutely despicable and pathetic comment. Just to explain the difference, the marine was a colleague; They've one of their own, not a customer. The day they stop showing respect every time they lose someone is the day you have lost the Armed Forces.
millbeach
Well-Known Member
"Second that".
Maybe the only place he has served was a "big mac"..
Maybe the only place he has served was a "big mac"..
whipper_snapper
Well-Known Member
If you can't see the difference then I don't know whether to pity or despise you.
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Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Did they do the same in WW2? Half mast in the whole fleet for every death?
I suppose we should be grateful that service deaths are relatively infrequent these days.
nonitoo
Well-Known Member
What an appalling posting.
On TV whenever I see that aircraft landing and the coffin being brought out my heart aches for the casualty and the family - it does not matter who they were.
It could be because our son is a RAF helicopter pilot and our nephew serves with the Army Air Corps and we feel part of the "family" but I believe I would feel the same whatever.
Tom
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
I joined the RN back in 1976, and even then it was the custom for all ships and establishments to half-mast the ensign during the funeral of any sailor in the port area.
John
ferrispeterchris
Well-Known Member
Highland Bear
Well-Known Member
Pathetic.
Trapezeartist, I really, really do think you should consider removing your wholly objectionable message.
Trapezeartist, I really, really do think you should consider removing your wholly objectionable message.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
I agree with the sentiment and the flying of flags at half mast as a sign of respect.
What would happen if it were a proper war against a properly equiped and organised army of a similar size? The losses would be such that the flags would be permenantly at half mast.
What would happen if it were a proper war against a properly equiped and organised army of a similar size? The losses would be such that the flags would be permenantly at half mast.
Allan
Well-Known Member
I agree it is appalling. I think we are all part of the "family". Maybe I am unusual, I have shown my respect to the forces in Wooton Basset and been on many marches protesting against the illegal wars we should not be involved in.
Allan
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cliffordpope
Well-Known Member
But surely there has to be an appropriate degree of scale? If one death requires the entire navy to fly flags at half mast, what further level is there left in order to show appropriate respect for a disaster involving the loss of an entire ship? Or the death of the monarch?
If the Thames cranes had dipped their jibs for the death of every individual docker, would anyone have been moved at Churchill's death? Wouldn't it have devalued the symbolism?
If the Thames cranes had dipped their jibs for the death of every individual docker, would anyone have been moved at Churchill's death? Wouldn't it have devalued the symbolism?
dombuckley
Well-Known Member
No it's not the entire Navy, nor because of the death per se. However, it has long been the custom for the naval base and any ships alongside to wear their ensigns at half mast during the period of a local serviceman's funeral.
The regular half-masting of colours has only really come to prominence recently, when we started repatriating those fallen in battle: in WW2, for instance, almost all those killed in action were buried at sea or abroad.
The regular half-masting of colours has only really come to prominence recently, when we started repatriating those fallen in battle: in WW2, for instance, almost all those killed in action were buried at sea or abroad.
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maxi77
Well-Known Member
I think one can only pity some one with so little compassion, it must be terrible to live like that
